S.F. skateboarder vs. SFPD officer

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In the past two days, a video of a San Francisco police officer arresting a skateboarder named Zach Stow has gone viral, prompting an online controversy: Did Stow deserve to be handcuffed and arrested, and was the arresting officer out of line when he threatened to break Stow’s arm “like a twig” if he resisted?

The video begins with an exchange between Stow and his friends and the officer, who later identifies himself as “Officer Schwab, (badge number) 2099.” The police roster shows him to be Officer Noel Schwab, who works at Southern station.

It’s clear that it’s not a friendly situation to begin with, as Schwab is examining several pieces of identification belonging to Stow’s dour-looking friends. Exactly when and where the incident is happening are not known.

The situation goes quickly downhill when Stow explains he is “pissed” because the officer is a “f– d–.” Schwab pulls him up, tells him he is being arrested for “skateboarding in the city and county of San Francisco,” and puts him in handcuffs.

Sgt. Wilfred Williams, a Police Department spokesman, confirmed the arrest. He said Stow was going to be cited for violating the city’s skateboarding code, but that the violation turned into an arrest after Stow could not provide identification, which the sergeant said is standard procedure. Our efforts to reach Stow have been unsuccessful.

As for the rest of what happened, Williams would say only, “We’re aware of the incident. The officer has been assigned station duty and an investigation is under way.”

Williams would not confirm the officer’s name, explaining that it was a personnel matter.